Dentistry Commons^™

Electromyographical Assessments Of Recommended Neck And Trunk Positions For Dental Hygienists, Margaret F. Lemaster, Kyle J. Kelleran, Maryam Moeini, Daniel M. Russell

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental professionals are recommended to limit neck and trunk flexion to within 20° of a neutral (0°) body posture, however empirical support for the recommendations is lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in muscle workload between a range of neck and trunk postures in a population of dental hygiene students.

Methods: Fifteen first semester senior dental hygiene students with no history of neck and trunk injury volunteered to participate. Surface electromyography was used to record muscle activity from two neck extensors muscles, cervical erector spinae (CES) and upper trapezius (UT), and two …

Attitudes Of Virginia Dentists Toward Dental Therapists: A Pilot Study, Adaira L. Howell, Susan Lynn Tolle, Emily A. Ludwig, Denise M. Claiborne

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine perceptions of Virginia (VA) dentists toward mid-level dental providers, specifically dental therapists (DT), and determine whether membership in the American Dental Association (ADA) membership affected attitudes.

Methods: A convenience sample of 1208 dentists in the state of VA were invited to participate in an electronic survey. The instrument consisted of 11 Likert type scale questions assessing attitudes toward DTs. Additional items included the appropriate level of education and supervision of a DT, and five demographic questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A one-sample t-test was used to …

Caregivers' Comprehension Of The Terms Decay And Cavities: A Qualitative Analysis, Denise M. Claiborne, Deanne Shuman, Melissa Sullivan, Julia Richman

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Tooth decay and cavities are the most common oral health consequences for young children that may result from inadequate oral health literacy (OHL) or understanding of their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to describe the understanding of terms related to decay and cavities among caregivers of preschool-aged children.

Methods: English-speaking caregivers with children aged(OH-LIP). Responses were recorded, transcribed, coded, and assigned to domains and categories.

Results: Responses from 111 participants were included in the analysis. About one fifth of the participants (19.8%, n=22) indicated that they did not know what decay was or provided an incorrect response. …